Efforts underway to portray Hanimaadhoo Airport project as wasteful spending by previous administration: Council President

The President of the Hanimaadhoo Island Council, Ali Ibrahim, has stated that concerted efforts are currently underway to portray the Haa Dhaalu Hanimaadhoo Airport project as a wasteful expenditure incurred by the previous administration.

Speaking on Friday's "Fashaairu" program, Council President Ali stated that under the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the development of Hanimaadhoo International Airport was treated as a high priority, executed according to a specific plan that aligned with the aspirations of the people.

Ali stated that the airport is facing issues across all areas, noting that one side of the facility has become completely paralyzed.

Through immense effort, we have developed this airport as the primary development hub for the Boduthiladhunmathi region, specifically designed to cater to tourism. However, we are now observing a situation where only one or two flights are landing daily, and those are solely from Male’. Previously, even when it functioned as a standard domestic airport, it handled five, six, or even eight flights a day. Now, operations at the airport are grinding to a halt. To put it bluntly, the airport is facing a multitude of systemic issues. Take the fuel farm, for example; it is stocked with fuel, yet that fuel cannot be used. There are chemical contaminants in a vast quantity of the supply. In essence, one entire side of the airport’s operations has been paralyzed, and there appears to be no plan whatsoever to address this.

Ali Ibrahim, President of the Hanimaadhoo Island Council

Furthermore, Ali stated that the airport was originally developed with a vision to bolster tourism throughout the entire region, but noted that this plan is no longer in place.

Ali noted that plans were originally in place to develop a resort on the island's narrow tip, an arrangement he said the current administration had previously agreed to. However, he revealed that they have now been informed that the resort development cannot proceed, as instructions have been issued to allocate the entire area to the airport. He further asserted that even if the area is handed over to the airport, it would still be possible to develop a resort at the site.

The primary issue we are currently facing, which is a cause of great dissatisfaction for us and the local residents alike, concerns the initial development plan that designated a specific area for resort development. When the community proposed including this in the land-use plan to facilitate the project, we were informed that a resort could no longer be built on that expansive, prime location—arguably the most beautiful part of the area. Now, the authorities are demanding that this land be handed over for the airport project. Our position is not necessarily to withhold the land from the airport; however, even if it is incorporated into the airport's jurisdiction, it must still be developed as a resort. Otherwise, we will not relinquish the area, which would force the runway to be constructed at the far edge. We proceeded based on the original plans, but we are now seeing a complete shift in the approach. What we are witnessing is the government operating in a manner that feels like the seizure of the island's most valuable land.

Hanimaadhoo Council President Ali Ibrahim

Ali stated that no progress or development has been observed at the airport under the current administration. He alleged that the government is actively working to portray the project as a waste of public funds incurred by the previous administration. He further noted that officials within the current government had previously characterized the airport as a redundant facility and continue to maintain that narrative.